Be prepared when medical mishaps strike

I was never a Girl Guide, but when I travel, I like to be prepared. To me, that means more than packing extra pairs of socks and underwear -- I want to be armed for any kind of medical problem that could crop up on the road.

On a two-week trip to Thailand and Japan with a group of other journalists, I earned the nickname "the surgeon-general" because I had something in my travel medical kit to take care of almost any malady -- my own and those of my fellow travellers.

Especially in a group of seasoned travellers, I was amazed to discover not everyone packs what I consider to be basic medical essentials. And the idea that you can buy whatever you need at your destination is often a myth -- just try finding Benadryl or Polysporin in a quaint little town in Cuba or Croatia.

Let's assume that you're smart enough to remember to bring any prescription drugs you regularly take, as well as sunscreen and insect repellent if you're going somewhere hot and buggy. Aside from those key items, here's my top-10 list of things I never leave home without.

1. Pepto-Bismol tablets or caplets

To me, this is a no-brainer. I take at least a couple of bottles with me for anything longer than an overnight trip, and one stays in my handbag at all times just in case I need it in a hurry. From Montezuma's revenge to heartburn to a garden-variety upset tummy, those little pink pills can cure just about anything. If I have any qualms about how my system is going to react to the local cuisine, I take one with each meal for the first few days. I prefer the caplets because I don't like the chalky taste of the tablets, but either one works. Don't pack the liquid stuff unless you want to risk having an entirely pink travel wardrobe.

2. Liquid hand sanitizer

Purell makes miniature versions of these alcohol-based sanitizers, which are small enough to get past airport security and to keep in your pocket or bag throughout your trip. Aside from keeping my hands clean, I use them for wiping down airplane food trays and hotel phones, for sterilizing earrings before I put them in, and for cleaning cuts and scrapes so they don't become infected.

3. Band-Aids

Okay, so most people wouldn't take a trip without these, but how many do you pack? I used to take five or six, but now I take a few dozen of different shapes and sizes, mostly to cushion any sore spots on my feet that might develop into blisters if left to their own devices.

4. Polysporin ointment or cream

Even a small cut can turn into something really ugly if you don't treat it properly. I know someone who scratched a bug bite in Malaysia that subsequently became infected and forced him to head from the airport to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics as soon as he got home. Melodrama aside, when you're on the road, you really want any cut, scrape or burst blister to heal quickly and cleanly.

5. Ibuprofen (Advil)

From lost-luggage headaches to nasty sunburns, you need something to make the pain go away so you can enjoy your trip. I prefer ibuprofen to Tylenol because it's an anti-inflammatory as well as a pain killer, which means it will also help calm down muscle and joint aches to help you keep on trucking.

6. Benadryl cream and tablets

Okay, I cheated -- these are two separate items, but depending on how much of a magnet you are for bug bites and stings, you can either pack both or the cream alone. Since I'm an all-you-can-eat buffet for mosquitoes, I take both. The cream is great for taking some of the itch out of bites, and I sure could have used the tablets in Florence when my eyelid swelled shut from a mosquito bite..

7. Gravol

Even the most stalwart constitution can be put to the test by a choppy boat ride or a turbulent flight on a small plane. And this is one drug you should be quite happy to pass around to friends in need, because there's nothing like a bunch of upchucking fellow passengers to make you want to leap out an airplane window. If it's a long flight, Gravol has the added benefit of making you sleepy.

8. Sleeping pills (prescription or over-the-counter)

Some people say you're supposed to reset your watch to the local time as soon as you arrive at a far-flung destination and just tough out your fatigue until your body adjusts. I say hogwash -- I'd rather take a sleeping pill for a couple of days and not be wide-awake at 3 a.m. and dead on my feet at 3 p.m. Some people say over-the-counter drugs like Valerian are effective, but not for me -- I go for the hard stuff.

9. Sudafed

You'll be glad you brought this over-the-counter decongestant if you come down with a cold that leaves you snuffling through your days and breathing through your mouth at night. But even more importantly, if you fly with a head cold and congestion, you risk rupturing an eardrum -- it happened to me, and it was excruciatingly painful. It's also no fun being deaf in one ear and having to take a week's worth of antibiotics when you're on vacation. A decongestant is your best bet for clearing out the pipes so that doesn't happen.

10. Ciprofloxacin

This multi-purpose prescription antibiotic, best known as an antidote for anthrax, isn't a must-have for people headed to Palm Springs or Paris. But if I get really sick in some remote place where medical care and my language skills are both questionable, I'll be glad I brought the Cipro. My doctor suggested it before I travelled to China and even though I've never used it, I'm glad to have it on hand just in case. Call me paranoid if you must -- I like my chances of coming home healthy.